Help me buy a car PLEASE!!!!

[am07870]

hello all,

apologies if this is in the wrong section in the forum, but still relatively new to this great forum!

anyway, i need to buy a car, but can't decide on what!!!

given that i have 3 kids (therefore 2 car seats and a booster)

i personally want to go for a people carrier type thing, so am thinking s-max, mazda 5, qashqai, honda crv. bmw x3 etc

however, my missus insists not to get what she considers a "van" type of car and get a nice saloon, to which i keep telling her, any saloon is going to be too cramped for the kids, and hard to fine a 3 seater in the back. i just about manage in a bmw 320!

can you folks recommend something that might meet us both half way, or anything else you think is suitable????

thanks,

am07870

[Merp]

Whats the budget? Also max mileage, year etc...

[am07870]

Merp said:

Whats the budget? Also max mileage, year etc...

willing to spend between 4-8k. i want good value for money, and something which is efficeint, good on tax and insuarnce too

[S10GTA]

Saab 9-5 Aero estate.

Big enough for you all to fit. Looks good. Over 200bhp. Leather etc. Under budget. Win.

[lewisf182]

There was a guy on here recently (think its in readers cars) who bought a gorgeous citroen c5 for 8k i think, might be worth a look, seemed a lot of car for the money. Depreciation may be an issue though but they havnt really got that far to go.

[RobCrezz]

Audi A6? Quite a bit more space than a 3 series and doesn't look like a van.

[TheTurbonator]

We have a C4 Grand Picasso which is great with the kids. 3 separate seats in the back and a huge boot for all their stuff. However I will admit it might be a bit too much van like for your Mrs. It does drive nice, it just isn't a drivers car or sports car.

The Ford S-max is a better drivers car but you're going to be at the very top-end of your budget trying to find one.

The 5-series has a lot of room in the back, maybe even a touring version may be worth a look if you can convince her.

Edited by TheTurbonator on Thursday 13th September 08:27

[Captain Muppet]

am07870 said:

... any saloon is going to be too cramped for the kids, and hard to fine a 3 seater in the back. i just about manage in a bmw 320!...

If only there was a car like the 3-series but bigger. BMW are missing a trick there I think.

[Rosscow]

Captain Muppet said:

If only there was a car like the 3-series but bigger. BMW are missing a trick there I think.

[750turbo]

Honda Fr-V? Plenty in your price bracket.

6 Seater, 2 rows of 3. We are on our second and can highly recommend it for ferrying family about.

[LuS1fer]

We had a Mazda 5 and loved it - handles like a Focus as it is one underneath. However, we changed it for a Mk IV Mondeo for greater luggage capacity. We have a child seat (3 yr old), a booster seat (6 yr old) and a 12 year old sits in the middle. This leaves the vast boot for bikes, scooters, tents, marquees, small countries etc.

The Mondeo has the width. I doubt a Saab has.

[S10GTA]

LuS1fer said:

The Mondeo has the width. I doubt a Saab has.

Behave. The 9-5 is really wide.

[BuzzLightyear]

Rosscow said:

Captain Muppet said:

If only there was a car like the 3-series but bigger. BMW are missing a trick there I think.

But the 5 series (E39 presumably) is still not really wide enough for 3 child seats. Don't know if the E60 is any better.

[am07870]

do you think a honda accord or vauxhall insignia could do the trick? they look quite big for saloons?

[Quietlybonkers]

An XC90 Volvo is in your budget. Great to drive, reasonable diesel economy, seven seats, and they are all proper seats, on some

[JimmyTheHand]

am07870 said:

bmw x3

Having just traded in a X3 (E83) for the latest version I wouldn't say they are the most spacious car going (being tall driving position was great for me and normally only me in car so luggage/passenger space wasn't highest priority) - the C5 I had before had much more room. I'd suggest looking at the Mondeo size cars to see whether they fit the bill.

When I go away I wonder how I ever managed to get 5 adults and luggage into cars before as I could easily fill the boot on mine now, then I wonder how my parents managed with 3 kids in cars smaller than latest fiestas

[am07870]

job done!!!

purchased a honda accord sport 2.2l cdti,55 plate privately, mint condition in and out, 76k miles, diesel,6 months tax, mot and honda warranty, £4k!!!

am07870

[Jasandjules]

Let us know how you get on with it and can I say thanks for actually letting us know what happened!